Re: [Phys-l] F causes a

[jbellina <jbellina@saintmarys.edu>]

Rick raises an interesting point.  I've not been following this too  
closely, but has the discussion been careful to avoid the whig  
interpretation of history...ie thinking about the past as we think  
now, rather than thinking about the past as they thought about it.

cheers,

joe

Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556

On May 11, 2006, at 10:37 AM, Rick Tarara wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rauber, Joel" <Joel.Rauber@SDSTATE.EDU>
> >
>
> > The context is certainly important in understanding what an author  
> > meant
> > in their writings.  The "non fingo . . ." I think indicates rather
> > conclusively Newton's intentions.
> Of course, did he throw that in because he REALLY didn't want to  
> speculate
> or because:
>
> http://bama.ua.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0510&L=semnet&D=0&T=0&P=27727
>
> "Newton's "Hypotheses non fingo" was in response to criticism that
> all he had was an interesting conjecture and not proven results.
> In those days hypotheses were not considered a good thing.  Francis
> Bacon railed against the speculative hypotheses of the Aristotelian
> philosophers of his time and demanded resort to experience."
>
>
> Who is to know?
>
> ;-)
>
> Rick
>
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